Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1887-02-24

In answer to many questions re-
gardiLg California, We publish the
following from a friend now in that
State:
The principal advantages that San
ia Clara county offers to settlers are
as follows:
The center of the county is only
fifty miles from San Francisco, which
is the center of the population and
commerce. The northern end of the
county is bounded by the bay of San
Francisco, the finest harbor on the
coast, and at present three railroads
with others in immediate prospect)
connect the county with that city.
San Francisco is the point from
which Pacific coast exports are made
to all parts of the world, and is also
the distributing point for all imports
and supplies received from the
whole world. These advantages of
Santa Clara county mean a great saw
ing of time and of freight and passen;
ger charges, besides bringing the
merchants here in competition with
those in San Francisco.
Santa Clara county therefore is in
the center of the State and is also in
the tenter Of population. 1t is near
to the State Capital, Sacramento. 1t
is in the center of civilization and all
the industries.
Being in this center, it has all the
facilities of overland and ocean trans
portation competition, San Jose being
the only city in California, besides
San Francisco, that enjoys all these
facilities. This is an incalculable ad-
vantage.
1t has the best climate in the
world. Woolen clothing is necessary
the year round, and blankets are re-
quired at night. Fires are never re-
quired in summer and rarely in the
day time in winter. Sunstroke and
hydrophobia are unknown, and there
are never any diseases incident to
climate, such as dysintery, hay fever
and other fevers in summer and ty-
phoid fever, pneumonia and other
pulmonary diseases in winter.
Out of the 365 days of the year
there are 800 days of sunshine in
Santa Clara county. This is not only
conducive to health and pleasure
but offers an immense saving in time.
1t rams here only in the winter
months, and only occasionally then.
This is the greatest novelty to stran-
gers, and by many considered draw
back. On the contrary, it is imagin-
able. Whatever dust IS created by
the dry weather of summer is laid by
sprlnkling done by the public author
ties, and hence the roads are made
pleasure drives and are the smooth
est and prettiest in the world. The
dryness of the summer makes camp
ing out and travelling through the
country luxury and an invaluable
heaIth-giver, and large part of the
population resorts to it. There is
absolute certainty of comfort-none
of the Eastern fear shower or thun-
derstorm. Living springs and run
ming streams are abundant. This
dryness is a boon to the farmer and
the horticulturist Grain may be
left standing three months after it is
ripe without any fear that it will be
injured by rain, thus giving the farm
er time and opportunity, and unlike
the grain of the Eastern States it
never opens its pods and sheds its
| kernels, as there is no rain here to
bring this about. After it is cut and
threshed and sacked it is left on the
ground in the open field till sold OF
shipped, and hay is treated in the
same manner-there is 10 danger
/ from ram. This is an immense say.
ing Of time, expense and trouble.
There is no rain to damage ripening
fruit. and this is one reason Why the
fruit grown in this county is the
finest and sweetest in the world-it
has continuous sunshine and no rain
Figs left on trees will dry themselves
and grapes left on vines become
raisins. These things are incredible
to stranger, but they are true.
The absence of rain in summer
does away with all troublesome in
sects, such as mosquitoes and gnats
those curses of the camper of tn,
East. The croaking of frogs is no
heard.
| The dry summer does not by any
means give a parched aspect to th'
country. There is abundant mois
ture in the soil, as it is shown by th'
luxuriant grain fields, orchards ant
wild flowers all through the summer
and by surface wells Of ordinar,
depth, and by springs and streams
The landscape is always beautiful.
j The rain falls in the winter, but NJ
snow or sleet. The winters are milo
and soft. The ground never freezes
Fresh strawberries and garden pea
grown in this county in the open al
and in the greatest abundance are TO
sale every month in the year, and fin
watcrmelons ripen till late in Janu
! ary. Tender, fresh vegetables o
nearly all kinds are furnished th
whole year, new crops being con